The Fezziwig News by Stu Jenks

...some images from the Tohono O'Odham Nation...

...some images from the Tohono O'Odham Nation (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

On the Etsy now (and the new CD...)

I'm on Etsy now. (Click here to go to my Etsy store)

Frankly, I didn't know you could sell photography on Etsy. I was wrong. Happy to be wrong.

Book sales are OK (I say with a slight wince), but art sales have been down the last year or so. We are in The Great Recession, don't you know. But I completely understand.

It's easier, in this economy, to buy a $12 CD or $10 eBook or a $20 hardback book, than it is to buy a $100 to $200 print, or a large, more expensive, framed piece. That is, if you are part of the 99%, or the 90%, or the lower 50%. (I'm in the lower 28%. I looked it up.)

Good news: The new CD will be shipped next week. More on that later. I may have a CD release party but I have a very small studio. But I'm thinking about it. Maybe in the parking lot, some night, during the Festival OF Books in March.

Any ideas? I'm open.

"Santa Rosa Cemetary"

"Santa Rosa Cemetary, Tohono O'Odam Reservation, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"Two Flags Over Sells"

"Two Flags Over Sells, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"Helicopter To Sells"

"Helicopter To Sells, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"The Watertower at The Archie Hendricks Sr. Skilled Nursing Facility"

"The Watertower at The Archie Hendricks Sr. Skilled Nursing Facility, Santa Rosa, Tohono O'Odham Reservation, Arizona"

"Adobe LEDs"

"Adobe LEDs, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

Not that it's a big deal, but I'm heading toward the end of the first draft of the novel. Three more big things need to happen to my characters, including one character's mother dies of dementia. (Wonder where that idea came from.) And thanks to two writer people friends who will remain nameless (for now) for pushing me to finish the first draft before I do any revisions at all to the novel. Y'all are so right about that and so encouraging. I can't thank you enough. Now back to work.

"Wolf Creek Wood"

"Wolf Creek Wood, Colorado" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"St. Augustine's Pigeons"

"St. Auguestine's Pigeons, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"New Mexico Wood"

"New Mexico Wood" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"The 41 Nights"

"The 41 Nights" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"God Who?"

"God Who?, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"Mirage near Alamosa"

"Mirage near Alamosa, Colorado" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

"The Jenks in 1971"

"The Jenks in 1971" (c) ???, 1971 and Stu Jenks, 2012

Found this in my mother's wallet. Was taken at some photo studio in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1971. I was 16 or 17, Pamela was around 21, Dad was 49ish, and Mary was in her early 40's.

I put this up on the StuBlog primarily to show that my sister was once quite the pretty woman. Those horned-rimmed glasses though don't help my parents' looks, and sweet Jesus, did I have terrible teeth back then with the braces and such or what? Yikes. And my long hair just drove my Dad nuts. This was 1971 in the South, you know. And no, I don't know exactly why I decided to part my hair on the right, making a big blob of hairishness. My guess it was I knew if I parted it in the middle, my father and I would come to blows.

But wasn't Pamela a pretty girl?

And i did fiddle with this image a little, but I don't believe in photoshopping away the cracks and lost paper in old photos. They are the lovely scars of time in pictures. And yes, this once was a color photo. Guess it wasn't printed on archival paper (chuckles).

...this and that, from Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado...

I'm just going to put these images up on the StuBlog and say very little. Some are good, some not-so-good, some in-between. Some from last week, some from last year. Enjoy.

All images copyrighted by Stu Jenks, 2012.

And may tender arms keep you warm this winter.

"Grand Canyon Hoop Dance"

"Grand Canyon Hoop Dance, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

There's a story to tell with this image, but I'll tell it another time. Let's just have the image speak for itself for a change.

Fun Facts: This photograph was taken around 4:30 this morning. That's about as fast of a production turnaround as you'll ever get out of me.

And I wasn't in much danger shooting this. A little, but not much. I tend to be careful and heights don't scare me.

"Jesus at El Tiradito"

"Jesus at El Tiradito, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

To all of those who died and who were injured a year ago today, you continue to remind in my thoughts and prayers.

"Epiphany Peak Hoop Dance"

"Epiphany Peak Hoop Dance, Baboquevari Mountains, Arizona" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks 

[Note: In this age of photoshopness, everything you see is on the digital negative. Was created using a large embroidery hoop, owned by my sister, wrapped in two hundred battery-powered Christmas lights. And happy Twelth Night, to one and all.]

"Finance & Revolution"

"Finance & Revolution: Virginia State Capitol Building, Richmond, Virginia" (c) 2012 Stu Jenks

...getting back on the Sunset Limited...

300 plus pages into the first draft of the novel. My main characters have just gotten off the train in Yuma. They'll be spending the night in Yuma, getting back on the Sunset Limited in the morning. God willing and the writer doesn't change his outline, they should be home in Tucson, tomorrow.

I'm guessing there's only about 70 to 100 pages untl I get to write the big climax of the novel. (I have a nice, hopefully-very-satisfying ending planned.) Then re-write and editors but that's then, not now. Now, I just want to share some more Graphic Pen images (and some straight photographic ones) that will be chapter heading images for the book. And just if you are wondering, Graphic Pen images are easier and cheaper to print lithographically and a little easier to design and upload for the IPad, Kindle and Nook. Anyway, have a happy Twenty Twelve, y'all, and don't forget to enjoy the mystery of it all.

That Force nor Fate can me displease, for Old Long Syne...

My Heart is ravisht with delight,
when thee I think upon;
All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight,
and speedily is gone;
The bright resemblance of thy Face,
so fills this, Heart of mine;
That Force nor Fate can me displease,
for Old long syne.

Old Long Syne, by James Watson (1711) [This is not the Robert Burns version of the song. The Image is Snow Dead Trees by Stu Jenks]

Happy 2012. I do not expect the world to end this year, as some say some Aztecs predicted, but this mortal world would end for me if I die in 2012, but I don't expect that to happen. But you never know. Life is fragile and fleeting. All I know for sure is I'm alive today, listening to my wind chimes ring in the mid morning wind while I type. Happy 2012.

...reflecting lots of silver light...

My sister, Pamela Jenks, had a 2011 datebook. Just a tiny red thing. Mostly, it contained times to take her pills or when she needed to go to chemo. Then there were those errands she needed to run that day and the all-important outcomes of Carolina basketball games, but on the rarest occasions, Pamela would write a few things that had left an impression upon her. And remember, she could hardly write at all, due to the huge lyphedema in her left arm.

Monday, May 16th, 2011:

"Stu takes me for a steak dinner. Buttery, tender, European rare fillet. Yum."

But the next night, while I slept upstair in our old house....

"4 a.m.: A big, fat, bright, shiny full moon, reflecting lots of silver light, with puffy clouds glowing by obscuring and revealing - gorgeous!"

She knew she was dying at this point. I wonder if she also knew I would later read these entries in a storage locker in Tucson, Arizona, a few days after Christmas, and cry. If not, she knows now.

Pamela was dead a month later.

Happy 4th day of Christmas, Pamela Jenks. I miss you as do others. May you be running with beagles in Paradise.

"Twelve Foot Aspen"

"Twelve Foot Aspen, Red Ridge Trail, Catalina Mountains, Arizona" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

Long story short: Eight years ago, a forest fire destroyed 90% of the trees on one of my favorite trails in all of Arizona. It saddened me so that I didn't walk that trail for two years. But good news. The Aspens have returned. Pictured above is a twelve foot Aspen from the Red Ridge Trail. Touching its bark the other day made me very happy.

Merry Third Day of Christmas, y'all.

"Two Candles At Grace Cathedral"

 

"Two Candles, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, California" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

I'll pray for many tonight, at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal. I'll pray for my dead family. I'll pray for my living friends and loved ones. I'll sing Silent Night. I'll light a candle. I'll go home, hoping that The Void Of God, that blessed emptiness where everything exists, fills my apartment in the morning.

I'm sure it will, for that Void is in my home now.

Right now. All the time. Always. Everywhere.

Merry Christmas Eve, y'all.

 

 

 

"Chapel Of The Nativity"

"Chapel Of The Nativity, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, California" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

Merry Christmas, everyone. I'll be back in the studio on the 27th. See you then.

 

This year's 'Silent Night'

Two years ago, for the Gladstone Mothershead CD, I recorded Silent Night. Upbeat, bouncy, it was fun.

This year, I've recorded it again. Slower, sadder, hopeful of the coming dawn, I suppose. Still fun, but sadder.

2011 isn't 2009.

But it's still Christmas in a few days, and it's still Solstice tonight.

Call back the LIght however you do, and I hope you enjoy this little mp3 for you.

 

Silent Night 2011 #4 by Stu Jenks

 

 

 

 

 

The spiritual father of my company...

 

“A small matter,” said the Ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.”

“Small!” echoed Scrooge.

The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig: and when he had done so, said,

“Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?”

“It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

He felt the Spirit’s glance, and stopped.

“What is the matter?” asked the Ghost.

“Nothing particular,” said Scrooge.

“Something, I think?” the Ghost insisted.

“No,” said Scrooge, “No. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. That’s all.”

 

-Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol"

Graphic Pen Images From The Novel

Been working on a backlog of images that may be chapter headers for the novel I'm writing. Images from Memphis, Pacifica, San Francisco, Picacho and Barstow.

I have been on the road a lot this year, haven't I? From North Carolina, Virginia, California, and parts inbetween.

It's good to be stationary for a while, working at my desk, with cool wet night air drifting in from outside, and the smell of lavender on my hands from a living plant I purchased today.

Happy Solstice everyone.

The Sun will return.

 

"Christmas Haiku #26"

"Christmas Haiku #26" and "Ancient Ornament" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

The Image in this post is of my family oldest Christmas ornament, at least from what I think Mom told me years ago. Was in her family long before she was born. Probably circa 1890, but I'm not really sure.

It hangs in front of me now from the bookcase key of my secretary desk. It delights me and saddens me. I miss my family, primarily my sister.

Pamela wrapped a small gift for me, 11 months ago, when she knew she was dying. The gift sits under my Christmas stick tonight.

Happy and sad, all at the same time.

And it's time for the Christmas Haiku.

Enjoy a bit of the nog this season, and have yourself a Merry little Christmas.

Christmas Haiku #26 by Stu Jenks

Deaths and injuries:

Empty spaces where they were.

But it's still Christmas.

"Two Choke Hill Spiral: For Terri & Howard"

"Two Choke Hill Spiral, Arizona: For Terri & Howard" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

An earth spiral from yesterday's hike near Oracle, Arizona. Due to a combination of too long a lens and too big a spiral, this truly looked better in person, but this photo'll do.

And most of the red ants below this spiral were hiberating, so I don't this they minded the piece of art above their heads, but you never know. They are fire ants after all.